CANADIAN HEROS!

Physical condition saved lives: Doctor
Huge car bomb near Kandahar defused
Jan. 20, 2006. 05:05 AM
PAUL MOLONEY
CANADIAN PRESS
OTTAWA—The excellent physical condition of three soldiers
wounded by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan probably saved
their lives and is contributing to their recoveries, says a
doctor monitoring their progress.
All three were expected to survive Sunday's attack despite
daunting wounds that may ultimately affect their quality of life,
said air force Maj. Nick Withers, one of two Canadian military
doctors posted in Europe.
Master Cpl. Paul Franklin of Edmonton lost his left leg at the
knee joint, requiring an above-knee amputation.
Still medicated, he had been moved out of intensive care
and his spirit was "remarkable."
Doctors, however, were concerned for his right leg.
"Although the nerve and blood supply is intact, he sustained
a lot of soft-tissue damage and has a bad fracture."
Cpl. Jeffrey Bailey of Edmonton was the most seriously
wounded, sustaining a fractured skull and brain injuries.
He remained in intensive care in a medically induced coma
and paralysis yesterday with bleeding and a large bruise on
the left side of his brain.
Doctors were medicating him and draining blood to relieve
pressure inside his skull. Both his lungs were damaged in the
blast and require tubes to prevent their collapse.
He also has other minor fractures.
Pte. William Salikin from Grand Forks, B.C., also had a head
injury and remained in a medically induced coma in
intensive care, though doctors were easing the medication
and allowing him to move.
Doctors hoped to remove his breathing tube within 24
to 48 hours. He had bruising to the brain.
Two broken bones in his right forearm were repaired during
a three-hour operation Wednesday. One lung was also
damaged, possibly by treatment.
Withers said it's too soon to say what long-term effects
the wounds might have on either Bailey or Salikin.

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